HJAR May/Jun 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAY / JUN 2022 39 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com peer-reviewed research articles, presented at national and international conferences, and developed a highly regarded clinical practice. In addition to clinical work on the main campus, he also conducted specialty clinics at one of MD Anderson’s satellite network sites in the greater Houston area. After earning a medical degree from Washing- ton University in St. Louis and completing a res- idency at the University of Illinois Hospitals, Tu completed a clinical fellowship in medical oncol- ogy at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. Brian Kirkpatrick, MD, Joins UAMS’ Walker Family Clinic Brian Kirkpatrick, MD, MSPH, has joined the Walker Family Clinic at the University of Arkan- sas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) as an outpatient psychiatrist. The Walker Family Clinic provides outpatient mental health services to adults 18 years and older. The clinic offers psychiatric evaluation, medication management, neuropsychological testing, and psychotherapy for individuals and couples as well as group sessions. The clinic is located in the UAMS Psychiatric Research Insti- tute on the Little Rock campus. A graduate of the University of Texas Medi- cal School at Houston, Kirkpatrick most recently served as a professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Uni- versity of Nevada at Reno School of Medicine. He is a former chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Texas A&M College of Medicine and vice chair of the Medical College of Georgia Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior. A professor in the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, Kirkpatrick’s research and clinical work focuses on schizophrenia and related disorders. NYITCOMat A-State Enjoys 96 % Match Rate New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State Univer- sity (NYITCOM at A-State) announced that 96% of its Class of 2022 placed into residency programs. “Match Day is one of the biggest days of the year for everyone involved in medical educa- tion, and we’re very pleased with our results,” said Shane Speights, DO, dean of NYITCOM at A-State. “The Class of 2022 experienced a num- ber of unique challenges as their final two years of medical school took place during a pandemic. They persevered and worked incredibly hard to secure these residencies, and we just couldn’t be prouder of them.” The Class of 2022 is NYITCOM at A-State’s third to participate in Match Day, and the Jonesboro- based medical school continued a trend of plac- ing a vast majority of its students in primary care positions. Approximately 70% of NYITCOM at A-State student doctors were placed into primary care programs, including 31% who matched into family medicine programs, 20% into internal med- icine residencies, and 25% who will specialize in pediatrics, OB/GYN, or psychiatry. Upon the completion of medical school, phy- sicians must complete residency to obtain their license to practice medicine in the United States. Residencies typically last three to seven years, depending on the specialty. During their final year of medical school, student doctors apply and interview for residencies. Once they’ve com- pleted their interviews, the student doctor ranks their preferred programs, and the programs rank their preferred candidates they’ve interviewed. Malachi McCurdy, MD, JoinsWashington Regional General Surgery Clinic Malachi McCurdy, MD, recently joined the Washington Regional General Surgery Clinic where he provides laparoscopic, robotic, and open general surgical services alongside a team of physicians McCurdy earned a medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed res- idency at Baylor University Medical Center. He is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and most recently worked as a general surgeon at Baxter Regional Medical Center. NYITCOMat A-State Accepting Applications for Project H.E.A.R.T. Summer Program New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State Uni- versity (NYITCOM at A-State) will hold its annual summer program, Project H.E.A.R.T., which will be held June 13-16 on the A-State campus. Project H.E.A.R.T. (Health Education, Advocacy, Reflection, and Training) serves to further NYIT- COM at A-State’s mission to develop students for service in Arkansas and the Delta region. There is no cost to the student to attend. Project H.E.A.R.T. gives students a chance to learn about healthcare and higher education while participating in fun educational activities. Campers tour NYITCOM facilities and learn about a day in the life of a medical student. Their experi- ence includes an opportunity to dissect a bovine heart in the anatomy lab. Students receive tours of northeast Arkansas’ two biggest hospitals — NEA Baptist Hospital and St. Bernards Medical Center — where they learn about the many different medical profes- sionals who play a role in delivering healthcare. They also hear from Arkansas State University fac- ulty who give them an overview of how to pre- pare for college and some of the career paths available to them. NYITCOM medical students serve as counsel- ors for Project H.E.A.R.T. n Brian Kirkpatrick, MD, MSPH Malachi McCurdy, MD